SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Pending contract negotiations, Seminole County's new superintendent is now locked in, after two votes over the course of a month.
Seminole County Schools attorney Serita Beamon was offered the job Monday night by a vote of three to two.
In early February, the Seminole County School Board voted to hire Chad Farnsworth as its new superintendent, only to rescind the offer two weeks later.
School board member Dr. Tina Calderone was the only one out of the group that changed her vote, initially voting for Farnsworth and then switching to Serita Beamon.
She was hoping for more unity among board members when choosing a superintendent.
“I think we need to have that dialogue to make sure that we can all be together, at least in a super majority for our next superintendent because that person needs to be successful for all of us,” said Calderone.
But that didn’t happen — both votes for superintendent were three to two.
Beamon issued a statement Tuesday which says, in part: “I look forward to working with our amazing School Board, teachers, district leaders, principals, employees, students, and the entire Seminole County community to ensure a world-class equitable education for all students."
Beamon has been the school district attorney since 2004. She admits she is the unconventional choice because she's never been a teacher or principal, but says her path here came from being a district student, parent, administrator and community member.
Last month, the school board voted to hire Farnsworth, but then rescind the offer two weeks later. During public comment Tuesday night, February 23, many pointed out the superintendent search committee gave Beamon more votes than Farnsworth. They argued she was the more qualified candidate.
"How can an applicant receive 21 yes votes from 21 superintendent search committee members, and was the only applicant that received a yes vote from each member," said a person during the public comment last month.
That led to the new vote Monday night.
School board member Abby Sanchez said she is optimistic about Beamon's new role.
“I want to make sure she is going to every school and visiting all our children, and doing sunshine phone calls and making our families happy, and visiting everybody, and those are things we’re just gonna have to make sure she does those things and I think she will and she’s going to be fabulous," she said.
Who will be the next SCPS Superintendent? Today I spoke to members of the search committee about the current two finalists. The district rescinded their initial 3-2 vote in favor of Chad Farnsworth and will now have a special board meeting March 1st. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/0Dglvc5w0I
— Spectrum News Asher Wildman (@AsherWildman13) February 24, 2021
With two grade schoolers in the Seminole County School district, Susan Tolksdorf has been paying close attention to the superintendent search.
“The dialogue was good. The information that the community gave their thoughts and opinions on was relevant,” said Tolksdorf.
According to information from SCPS, pending contract negotiations, Beamon is expected to take over the position in April.
The search for a new superintendent started after Walt Griffin announced his plans to retire this spring.
“I am hopeful that Ms. Beamon will continue one with Dr. Griffin’s legacy — to be innovative, inclusive of all also stand behind the students teachers and staff,” said Tolksdorf.